Hand wheel for manually operable valves



y 3, 1934- w. 6. LE COMPTE 1,958,165

HAND WHEEL FOR MANUALLY OPERABLE VALVES Filed June 50, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 8, 1934. w. G. LE COMPTE HAND WHEEL FOR MANUALLY OPERABLE VALVES 'Filed June 30, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1934 ?ATENT OFFICE HAND WHEEL FOR MANUALLY OPERABLE VALVES William Le Compte, New York, N. Y., assignor to Jenkins Broa, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 30, 1933, Serial No. 678,507

7 Claims.

This invention relates to non-heat-conducting hand wheels for manually operable valves, and more particularly to hand wheels of the character referred to which are provided with removable cover members which may carry information as to the nature or use of the valves to which they are applied, andis in part a continuation of my application Serial Number 626,117, filed July 29, 1932.

The hand wheels of manually operable valves are commonly molded of rubber or .of a suitable composition which is non-heat-conducting. It is frequently desirable, however, to provide such a hand wheel with a name or indication as to the nature or use of the valve; thus in laboratories, kitchens, etc., and more particularly in hospital appliances, it is important to have each hand wheel clearly and distinctly marked with the name of the valve to which the hand wheel is applied; at the same time, in order to standardize construction, it is desirable to provide the hand wheels with readily applied and interchangeable name-bearing members on the face thereof which carry the appropriate markings or characters.

In order to avoid burns from the hand coming in contact with such a face member, such member should not be in heat-conducting relation with the metallic valve stem, and it is an object of this? invention to provide an improved hand wheel construction wherein the face member is not only in non-heat-conducting relation with the valve stem, but provision is also preferably made to facilitate the dissipation of the heat from the hand wheel so as to prevent the face member from becoming gradually heated to an unsafe temperature.

Particularly where hand wheels of this character are used in hospitals it is highly important that the manner of attachment and form of the iacemember be such that likelihood of dirt and dust accumulating in recesses, angles, etc., be reavoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand wheel of the type characterized wherein the removable face member is flush with the contour of the body of-the hand wheel or makes a smooth, uninterrupted surface forthe hand wheel, so that all projections, angles, recesses, irregularities. etc.,

which may result in unsanitary conditions, are avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand wheel of the type characterized wherein a detachable face member is so mounted on the body of the hand wheel that the means of attachment of the face member substantially eliminates the danger of dirt accumulating at the joint of the attachment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand wheel of the type characterized with means for attaching the detachable face member thereto which enables removal of the same whenever desired without danger of marring the face member or the body of the hand wheel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand wheel of the type characterized which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, attractive in appearance, and of such construction that standardization of manufacture of the hand wheel bodies and face members is facilitated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand wheel of the type characterized with a readily attachable and detachable face member which is so insulated from the heat-conducting parts of the valve stem'that danger of burning the handi'rom contact with the face member is substant'ially eliminated and at the same time the face member is so attached to the hand wheel, as. to provide-an entirely sanitary construction.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

wheel of the-embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the component parts of the hand wheel of Fig. 1 drawn apart 5 for the purpose of cleamess of illustration;

Figs. 4 and 5 are an axial section and a transverse section of another embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. '7 is an axial section of yet another embodiment.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, designates any suitable valve casing provided with a valve stem 11 extending to the outside of the casing for the attachment thereto of a manually operable hand wheel. Valve stem 11 may be formed in any suitable way for the attachment of the hand wheel, being shown as provided with a squared section 12 and a threaded end section 13 in order that the hand wheel may be firmly and non-rotatably secured to the end of the valve stem 11.

The body of the hand wheel 14 may be formed of any suitable non-heat-conducting material, as

rubber, bakelite or composition, and may be of any suitable size, shape and configuration. As

shown said hand wheel is provided with a recess,

15 in its outer surface, said recess being defined by a ring 16 of suitable material, such as metal,

which is molded into the body of the hand wheel and which is beaded or otherwise suitably constructed so as to provide a shallow groove 17 for a purpose to be explained. While a ring 16 is here shown at the periphery of the recess 15, for purposes of strength and reenforcement, it will be apparent that where the body of the hand wheel is made of sufficiently strong and rigid material the ring 16 may be omitted and the groove 17 formed directly in the material of the hand wheel.

From the bottom of the recess 15 an aperture 18 extends to the rear side of the hand wheel, said aperture being of such size and shape as to properly receive the portion 12 of the valve stem 11. Also, leading from the recess 15 to the rear side of the hand wheel are one or more, preferably at least two, apertures 19 for a purpose hereinafter explained. The hand wheel as so far described is suitably secured on the valve stem 11 in any suitable way as by a nut 20 threaded onto the end section 13 of the valve stem, preferably with the interposition of a washer 21, whereby the body of the hand wheel is securely attached to the stem 11 by clamping the same against a shoulder or.washer on the valve stem as illustrated.

The name-bearing member 23 is a cup-shaped member forming a closure member for the recess 15 and having a dished bottom whose contour is such that it forms a flush continuation of the annular peripheral portions of the body of the hand wheel, so that when said closure member is in position, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, the bot tom of the cup 23 forms a smooth and uninterrupted continuation of the surface of the hand wheel. Said closure member may be made of metal or any other suitable material and is also provided with a peripheral axial flange 24 of a size which will fit snugly into the ring 16, suitable means being provided on or in said flange 24 for retaining the closure member 23 within the recess 15. As shown in this embodiment the flange 24 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 25 and mounted in said flange is a ring 26 of suitable material, as wire having suitable resiliency, provided with a pair of diametrically opposed offset portions 27 adapted to project through said slots 25, said ring 26 having an interruption 28 so as to permit contraction of the ring and withdrawal of the projections 27 into the slots 25 and flush with the outer peripheral surface of the flange 24.

The cl sure member 23 may be mounted within the recess 15 by merely pressing the same into said recess. During entry of the closure member into the recess the projections 27 of the ring 26 are cammed inwardly by engagement with the ring 16, until they are in alignment with the groove 17, whereupon they spring outwardly under the inherent resiliency of the ring 26 and by engagementin the groove 17 securely retain the member 23 withinthe recess 15. In this position, said member, as shown in Fig. 2, is flush with the exterior surface of the hand wheel 14, forming a smooth and uninterrupted continuation of the surface of the hand wheel and therefore aifording no projection or irregularity, either in itself or in its relationship to the body of the hand wheel, whereby dust or dirt can accumulate. As the flange 24 fits snugly into the ring 16, there is substantially no crevice at the joint of these elements.

In this position of the parts, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the closure member 23 is entirely insulated from the valve stem 11 by the intermediate body of air. The ring 16 is insulated from the valve stem 11 by the body of the hand wheel, and hence there is no heat-conducting path between the valve stem and the member 23. The member 23 is not only insulated from the extremity of the valve stem by the body of air in the recess 15, but the apertures 19 afford an opportunity for the ingress and egress of air to the recess 15, and by the circulation of air thereby provided overheating of the member 23 by gradual accumulation of heat in the air in the recess 15 is avoided.

When it is desired to remove the member 23 it 110 is only necessary to insert a wire, rod or like stiff thrust element through the aperture 19 and press on the bottom of the member 23, which releases the retaining ring -26 and permits the member 23 to be withdrawn. This manner of withdrawing 115 the member 23, avoiding any application of tools to the outer surface of the member or hand Wheel, prevents scratching or otherwise marring either said member or the face of the hand wheel.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the closure member 30 is made coextensive with the face of the hand wheel, and is shown as molded of non-metallic material. The body 31 of the hand wheel may be attached to the valve stem in any suitable Way, as in the manner illustrated in Fig.2, and the recess 32 formed therein has an aperture 33 extending to the outside of said body to receive the end of the valve stem. In this embodiment the groove 34 is formed directly in the material of the body, and the peripheral 130 flange 35 on the closure member, which is designed to fit said recess snugly, has a bead 36 which may snap into the groove 34, the material of the closure member being sufliciently yieldable to permit the engagement and disengagement of the bead 36 with and from the groove 34. Apertures 37 also communicate with the recess 32 as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3.

This embodiment also employs means to prevent rotational displacement of the closure member while enabling the cover member to be applied in any one of a plurality of positions so that any name or marking thereon may assume its proper position to facilitate reading thereof. As shown, the outer face of the flange 35 is provided 155 with a plurality, here shown as eight, of axially extending slots or grooves 38, symmetrically arranged, and the periphery of therecess 32 has one or more, preferably two, diametrically opposed, correspondingly shaped and inwardly directed 15C ocales lugs 39 adapted to engage in said slots or recesses 38 and thereby lock said closure member 30 against rotational displacement after it has been inserted in said recess, the plurality of slots or recesses, however, permitting considerable latitude in the relative position of said member 30 with respect to the body, so that any name thereon is conveniently arranged to facilitate reading there- This embodiment also provides the insulating efiect of the body of air between the closure member and the elements in heat-conducting relation with the valve stem, and also preferably includes the apertures for circulation of air through the recess within the body. The closure member constitutes a smooth regular continuation of the body of the hand wheel, so that it is sanitary, and it can be readily removed from the rear without marring or injuring .the parts, while it enables said member to be placed in any desired position with respect to any name or markings appearing on the face thereof.

The embodiment of Fig. 7 illustrates means whereby the closure member maybe removed from the rear of the hand wheel body without using apertures leading into the recess within said body. The periphery of the body 47 may have one. or more notches or grooves 48 so that a thrust element 49 may be applied from the rear to the overhanging peripheral portion 50 of the closure member 51 to remove said member. As shown at the left of Fig. 7, said notch or notches may be semicircular in shape and axially directed, or as shown at the right in said figure, said notch or notches may be somewhat flatter and have an angular direction so that a flat member may be applied at an angle to the periphery and under the edge 50 or the closure member to release the same. Otherwise the construction may be the same as in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, with or without means to prevent rotational displacement. If preferred, the closure member may be pried loose by inserting a thin blade between the surfaces of contact between the outer edge of the body and the under side of the peripheral portion 50 of the cover member, in which event the notches or grooves as may be omitted.

it will therefore be perceived that the present invention provides a readily attachable and detachable closure member or name-bearing member for the hand wheel of a manually operable valve wherein said member is entirely insulated from the heat-conducting elements of the valve stem and may be additionally maintained at a proper temperature by reason of the provision of air circulation through the chamber between said member and the end of the valve stem. It will also be perceived that the closure member is so constructed and mounted on the body oi the hand wheel that it constitutes a fiush uninterruptedq'afiitrace for the body of the hand wheel, eliminatingrecesses, angles, projections, irregularities and interruptions in which dirt or dust may accumulate and therefore become unsanitary, while the manner of mounting the closure member within its recess is such as to substantially avoid even a crevice at the meeting surfaces of said member and hand wheel. It will also be perceived that the closure member may be readily applied to the hand wheel by the mere act of inserting the same into the recess in the hand wheel, while said member may as readily be removed from the hand wheel from the rear body or the hand wheel. It will also be observed that the construction is such as to facilitate standardized manufacture of the hand wheel body, enabling the application of any appropriate name-bearing member to any given hand wheel, and ready change of name-bearing members if need arise, while the construction is simple, rugged and efiicient, inexpensive to manufacture, durable, and also attractive in appearance.

While the construction as heretofore disclosed has particular utility when the closure member is used as a name-bearing member, it also has marked advantages whether or not the closure member is provided with markings or characters. Furthermore, while the illustrated embodiments have been described with considerable particularity it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto as the invention is capable of receiving other mechanical ex pressions as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and proportion of parts, other means may be employed for detachably securing the closure within its recess or for preventing rotational displacement thereof or for attaching the hand wheel to its valve stem, etc., the means for preventing rotational displacement of the closure member in the embodiment of Figs. d to 6* can be omitted, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition or the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is: s

l. A non-heat-conducting hand wheel for manually operable valves comprising in combination a hand wheel body of heat-insulating material provided with a recess at its front, means whereby said body may be attached to a valve stem projecting through the rear face of said body, a closure member for said recess having an inwardly directed flange and an end wall, and means between said flange and an annular surface in said recess for securing said closure member in said recess when said flange is pressed into said recess, said body having an aperture extending into said recess from the rear face of said body whereby the end wall or said closure member may be engaged by a thrust element inserted into said recess through said aperture and said closure member removed from said recess in said body.

2. A non-heat-conducting hand wheel for. manually operable valves comprising in combination a hand wheel body of heat-insulating material provided with a recess at its front, means whereby said body may be attached to a valve stem projecting through the rear face of said body, and a closure member for said recess having an end wall which provides a continuous surface for the front face of said body when said closure member is applied to said recess and said closure member having an inwardly extending flange making a snug fit with an annular surface inisaid recess, said flange and surface 0:? said recess having cooperating means to retain said closure member in said recess andto prevent removal of said closure member from said recess from the front of said body member, said body jmember having an aperture extending into said recess from the rear face of said body member whereby the end wall of said closure member may be directly engaged by a thrust element inserted into said recess through said aperture and I l Eb said closure member removed from said recess in said body.

3. A non-heat-conducting hand wheel for manually operable valves comprising in combination a hand wheel body of heat-insulating material provided with a recess at its front, means whereby said body may be attached to a valve stem projecting through the rear face of said body, a closure member for said recess having an end wall providing a continuous surface for the front face of said body when said closure member is applied to said recess, the end wall of said closure member when said closure member is applied to said recess being spaced from saidattaching means so that said closure member is insulated from said attaching means by an intermediate body of air in said recess, and means within said recess for retaining said closure member in position, the rear of said body member having at least two unobstructed passages leading into said recess whereby air may circulate .through said recess to prevent overheating of said closure member.

4. A non-heat-conducting hand wheel for manually operable valves comprising in combination a hand wheel body of heat-insulating material provided with a recess at its front, means whereby said body may be attached to a valve stem projecting through the rear face of said body, a cup-shaped closure member for said recess having an inwardly directed flange adapted to make a snug fit with'an annular surface in said recess and said closure member having an end wall which when said closure member is pressed into said recess has its outer face forming a continuous surface for the front face of said body, and means between the flange of said closure member and said surface of said recess adapted to snap into engagement and retain said closure member in said recess when said closure member is pressed thereinto, said closure member being removable from said recess only by pressure applied to the closure member from the rear thereof.

5. A non-heat-conducting hand. wheel for manually operable valves comprising in combination a hand wheel body of heat-insulating material provided with a recess at its front, means whereby said body may be attached to a valve stem projecting through the rear face of said body, and a closure member for said recess having an inwardly directed flange and an end wall spaced from said attaching means so that said closure member is insulated from said attaching means by an intermediate body of air in said recess, said flange being adapted to make a snug fit with an annular surface in said recess for securing said closure member in said recess when said flange is pressed into said recess, and said body and closure member being constructed to provide for removal of said closure member from said body only by pressure exerted on said closure member from the rear thereof.

6. A non-heat-conducting hand wheel for manually operable valves comprising in combination a hand wheel body of heat-insulating material provided with a recess at its front, means whereby said body may be attached to a valve stem projecting through the rearface of said body, and a closure member for said recess having an inwardly directedflange and an end wall spaced from said attaching means so that said closure member is insulated from said attaching means by an intermediate body of air in said recess, said flange being adapted to make a snug fit with the peripheral wall of said recess for securing said closure member in said recess when said flange is pressed into said recess, said closure member and body having cooperating means to prevent rotational displacement of said cover member in said recess but permitting application of said closure member to said body at a plurality of positions, and said body and closure member being constructed to provide for removal of said closure member from said body only by pressure exerted on said closure member from the rear thereof.

7. A non-heat-conducting hand wheel for manually operable valves comprising in combination a hand wheel body of heat-insulating material provided with a recess at its front, means whereby said body may be attached to a valve stem projecting through the rear face of said body, and a closure member for said recess having an in wardly directed flange and an end wall spaced from said attaching means so that said closure member is insulated from said attaching means by an intermediate body of air in said recess, said end wall being coextensive with the face of said hand wheel, said flange fitting with an annular surface in saidrecess and having means thereon for cooperating with means on said surface to secure said closure member in said recess, and said closure member being removable from said body only by pressure exerted on said closure member from the rear thereof.

WILLIAM G. LE COMPTE. 

